Pakistan\u2019s \u2018best player\u2019
\n\u201cWe made Babar the king, and we are also bringing him down,\u201d says right-arm pacer
\n KARACHI
\nPakistan fast bowler Hassan Ali has thrown his full support behind under-fire former captain Babar Azam, who is currently battling a dip in form and performance.
\nSpeaking at a press conference after his Pakistan Super League (PSL) match on Monday, the fast bowler described Babar as Pakistan\u2019s \u201cbest player\u201d and dismissed criticism of his form, though he acknowledged that the star batter was going through a tough time.
\nHassan\u2019s remarks came when a journalist referred to one of his past comments about Babar in which he termed the former captain a \u201cKing\u201d by saying \u201cKing kar lega\u201d which means, the \u201cKing will deliver\u201d.
\n\u201cWe made Babar the king, and we are also bringing him down,\u201d he said, adding: \u201cIf my words \u2018the king will deliver\u2019 hurt anyone, I apologise. But my stance remains [that] Babar is our best player, and he will bounce back.\u201d
\nReflecting on the Karachi Kings\u2019 performance, the right-arm pacer admitted their batting collapse cost them the match. Karachi Kings were beaten by Lahore Qalandars in yesterday\u2019s match.
\n\u201cWe lost early wickets, couldn\u2019t build partnerships, and the pressure mounted,\u201d he said, adding that the team would review their inconsistencies.
\nThe 2017 Champions Trophy winner also addressed the broader issue of player criticism, condemning personal attacks while accepting constructive feedback.
\n\u201cCriticism for improvement is fine, but when families are targeted, it affects everyone,\u201d he said, referencing abusive crowd behaviour during Pakistan\u2019s recent tour of New Zealand. \u201cI understand that as public figures, we\u2019re always under scrutiny. Our job is to respond with performances.\u201d
\nHassan, who last played for Pakistan in May 2024, reiterated his desire to return to the national team. \u201cI\u2019m still young and believe in my ability. Performances here will decide my international future,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Pakistan\u2019s \u2018best player\u2019 \u201cWe made Babar the king, and we are also bringing him down,\u201d says right-arm pacer KARACHI Pakistan fast bowler Hassan Ali has thrown his full support behind under-fire former captain Babar Azam, who is currently battling a dip in form and performance. Speaking at a press conference after his Pakistan Super League […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":473010,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-473013","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n